Flushing apparatus



March 21, 1950 J. M. TEAHEN 2,501,589

FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I mi a! FIG.|.

INVENTOR. JAMES M. TEAHEN ATTORNEYS J.- M. TEAHEN FLUSHING APPARATUS March 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7, 1947 I INVENVTOR. JAMES M.TEAHEN qaemq Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF! a I 2,501,589"

nnosnmc APPARATUS James Teahen, Detroitj, Miqh assign'or to Teanen Associates, Inc Detroit, Mich, a cor 'pora'tiono'f Michigan e ApplicationJuly 7,1947, seramamas 9 Claims.

This invention relates to flushing apparatus for Water closets and more particularly for water closets of that type in which the'storage tank extends only a short distance above the rim of the bowl and is preferably integral with the bowl. It is one of the objects of the invention to obtain a construction which divides the water supplied by the inlet valve or ball cock during the interval in which said valve is open, sending substantially all of the water to the rim flush during the first portion of the period and sending it to the tank during the latter portion.

It is a further object to obtain a construction which provides a constant, or all-time open, atm'osp'heric Vent in conjunction with the water supplyto both the rim flush and the tank thereby precluding the drawing of contaminatedwater from either the tank orbowl back int'othe water supplysystem; I

Still -fui'th'er'it is an object to avoid noise during the operation of the flush. With these and other" objects in View, the invention-consists in the construction as hereinafter set" forth.

In the'drawings: I e V Fig; i-is' a'ver'ticalcentral section throu'gh a water closet bowl and integral tank to which my improved flushing means is ap lied; I

Fig; 2 is a Plan view-or a portion ofthet'an'kincluding the" ball cock, the flush valve and'actuating mechanism; e a

"Fig. 3 is'avertical section on line 3- -3; Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is"a vertical section on line 4 4, Fig. 2.

above stated my improved construction is used in connection with water closets of that type'iriwhich the water during the'fiushing op'er ation is fed from a low-level storage tank into the bowl below the normal level of the water seal therein. It is, however; necessary topr'ovide water for the rim flush, which is supplied by the ball cock, in additiontothe supply'for filling'the tank. Therefore, in order toavoid wasting of' water it is desirable'that substantially all'of the waterfr'orn-the ball cock should pass to the rim fi'ushduring the interval in which the flush valve is op'enand the tank 'is emptying into the bowl andthat the greater part of the water from the ball cock should be directed to the tank to fill the same after the-flush valvehas resea't'ed'. This I havea'cc'omplished by the following construe tion;

is the water closet bowl provided with the usual s'iphonic' action-discharge conduit A"'an'd' also with"the low leveltank A preferably inte graiwith' the bowl. A is a; dischargeconduit rorthetemk'leading to thebowr'teneaththelever As shown this trip mechanism comprises a handle D" connected to a rock shaft E which passes through an aperture in the wall of the tank and is'j'ournalled in a suitable fitting Secured to the inner end of the rock shaft is a lever G, one arm of which extends over the fiushvalve to engage an eye H on the lifting stem for saidvalve.

Water-is suppliedto the tank through a ball cock C and, as above stated; this ball cock also sup- .plie's water to the rimflush.

The channels through which water from the ball cock is alternatively directed to therim fiush and into .the tank can if desired be formed of separate fittings but to simplify the construction as well as to secure other advantages, they are preferably incorporated in the tank wall. Thus, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I is an inwardly "projec'ting portion of one end wall of the tank in which is formed a laterally extending channel J, havinga central depressed portion J forming" a trap. The right end of the channel (Fig. 2 terminates in a downwardly extending discharge port J To'the'leftof the trap portion the channel J has a downwardly and forwardly extending portion J which leads to the rim flush. In-th-is conduit portion J there is formed a contracted portion J- which is located a. rotary valve K1 This valve in normal position extends across the contracted portion J to substantially close the channel, but when given a quarter turn it will open'thechann'el. The valve K has an operating stem K extending into the tank. To this stem" is secured a crank arm K2, which is bifurcated at its outer end to embrace an arm- G" of the 1ever G whioh 'extends oppositely from the shaftE. The arrangement is such that the operation "of the'ha'ndle wnr unseat the flush valve B and the rising of this valve willrock the lever G causmg 'the'arm G thereof to 'actuate'the crankarm K and to open the valv K. This verve wiirthiis remain i open position until "the tank is emptied and the flush valve B reseated, where uponthevalve K is returned to its normal pdsiv ti'drjl for closing the channel J Tli'all book C is" at the llpfiel efid (if a water uifiii ronduit L which asses upward th'ro gli the'bottom' of thetank. The connection between the ball cock and passage J is preferably formal by""elbow"fit'tings L and E the latter extehding dbWtlWardiritb the return bend of the Crab J and" having" a discharge port L wnich fsuiiected to the left. It also has a small port or slit L directed to the right. The purpose of this construction is to substantially prevent discharge of water from the ball cock into the tank through the port J during that period in which the flush valve is unseated and the valve K is open. At the same time it prevents the unsealing of the trap and the sucking of air intothe water stream with the accompanying production of noise. This condition is maintained as long as the valve K is in open position. As soon as this valve closes then all of the water from the ball cock will pass to the right and be discharged through th port J 2 into the tank. It is to be noted, however, that the discharge port J is sufiiciently above the maximum water level in the tank (which is the overflow level of the bowl) that it would be impossible for any suction communicated to the passage K to draw water from the tank into said passage and back into the water system. In addition to the discharge port J I preferably provide a restricted drainage port J through the wall of the trap J. This is so located that the water level in the trap is normally slightly below the sealing point as shown in Fig. 3. As soon, however, as the ball cock is open the inrush of water will raise the level within the trap up to the top of the port J 2 thereby producing an effective seal. This will continue until the completion of the flushing operation and the refilling of the tank, after which the Water in the trap will drain out through the port J to establish the lower level. This construction expedities the final closing of the ball cock and it also is advantageous in reducing the quantity of water permanently maintained in the trap so that in case of freezing no damage will be done. The construction as above described has the following important advantages.

1. It produces an effective rim flush for substantially all of the water discharged from the ball cock in its open position will pass to the rim during the interval in which the tank is being emptied of its water content.

2. Unnecessary waste of water is prevented by closing of the valve K as soon as the flush valve B reseats and thereafter directing substantially all of the water from the ball cock through the port J to refill the tank.

3. The valve K when closed does, however, permit a, small quantity of water to pass it, which is suiiicient to establish the water seal in the bowl.

4. During the operation of the rim flush and also during the refilling of the tank, no air can be drawn into the water stream, which avoids noise.

5. The maximum height of water level in the tank is that at which the bowl will overflow and this is sufiiciently below the discharge port J to avoid any possibility of drawing water backward through said port and into the water system in case of a vacuum condition in the latter.

6. Another important feature of the construction is that the conduit leading to the rim flush is connected with a constantly open port. This precludes the drawing back of contaminated water from the bowl in case of stoppage of the latter and the rise of the water level therein above the ports to the rim flush. If under such conditions suction should occur in the water line this constantly open port will prevent sucking in of water from the rim flush.

In addition to these very important advantages there is the simplification of the fittings which are required for use in connection with the tank. Thus the ball cock is a simple float coritrol valve mounted on the water inlet conduit which can be connected to the passage in the tank wall by elbow fittings. The flush valve is operatively connected to the valve K by a lever on the manually operated rock shaft so that the latter valve will be held open until the flush valve reseats. Th water passages within the tank can be formed with very little increase in the manufacturing cost or the latter and as the tank is formed of vitreous material it is not subject to corrosion. The small drainage port in the trap willreduce the quantity of water left standing therein so that in case of freezing temperature the tank will not be damaged.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a water closet of the type including a bowl, a low level storage tank having a discharge connection into said bowl below the normal level of the water seal therein, a flush valve and a rimfiush for the bowl; of flushing means comprising a conduit having a portion leading to said rim flush anda portion leading to a constantly open discharge port spaced above the maximum height of water level in said tank, a ball cock for supplying water to said conduit and having no other water discharge connection to either tank or bowl and means operating upon the unseating of said flush valvev and opening of said ball cock for directing water in said conduit toward said rim flush and upon reseating of said valve for directing water to said port to refill said tank.

2. The combination with a water closet or the type including a bowl, a low level storage tank having a discharge connection into said bowl below the normal level of water seal therein, a flush valve and a rim flush for the bowl; of flushing means comprising a conduit having one end portion leading to the rim flush andthe opposite end portion leading to a constantly open port for discharging into the tank above the height of the.

maximum water level therein, a ball cook, a connection between said ball cock and conduit intermediate said portions and forming the solewater supply connecton to both tank and bowl, a nor- Y mally closed valve in said conduit between said ball cock connection and said rim flush, a connection between said flush valve and conduit:

valve for opening the latter whenever the former is unseated and means for directing the water entering said conduit from said ball cock towards said rim flush whereby the greater portion of the water will be discharged through said rim flush when said conduit valve is open and will be-dis charged through said port when said conduit valve is closed.

3. The combination with a water closet of the type including a bowl, 2. low level storage tank having a discharge connection into. said bowl below the normal level of water seal, a flush valve I and a rim flush for the bowl; of flushing means comprising a conduit having a portion leading to said rim flush and a full capacity portion 163,111+

ing to a constantly open discharge port spaced; above the maximum height of water level in said tank, a trap formed in said conduit between the opposite end portions thereof, a ball cock, a connection between said ball cock and conduit intermediate said rim flush and said trap forming the sole water discharge of said ball cock and adapted to direct entering water towards the rim flush but with sufilcient counter pressure to prevent unsealing of said trap, a valve in said conduit between said trap and rim flush and a con-.

nection between said flush valve and conduit valve for opening the latter whenever the former is unseated.

4. In flushing apparatus for water closets including a storage tank, a ball cock for filling and a flush valve for emptying the same, of a passage formed within the wall of the tank having one end portion leading to a rim flush and a full capacity opposite end portion leading to a port for discharging into the tank above the height of the maximum water' level therein, a connection between said ball cock and passage intermediate said portions forming the sole water discharge conduit for said ball cock, a normally closed valve in said passage between said ball cock connection and said rim flush, a connection between said flush valve and passage valve for opening the latter whenever the former is unseated and means for directing the water from said ball cock initially toward said rim flush.

5. In flushing apparatus for water closets including a storage tank, a ball cock for filling and a flush valve for emptying the same, of a passage formed within the wall of the tank having one end portion leading to a rim flush and a full capacity opposite end portion leading to a port for discharging into the tank above the height of the maximum water level therein, a connection between said ball cock and passage intermediate said portions forming the sole water discharge conduit for said ball cock, a normally closed valve in said passage between said ball cock connection and said rim flush, a connection between said fiush valve and passage valve for opening the latter whenever the former is unseated, means for directing the water from said ball cock toward said rim flush when said passage valve is opened and means for preventing suction of air through said port into the water stream in said passage.

6. In flushing apparatus for water closets including a storage tank, a ball cock for filling and a flush valve for emptying the same, of a passage formed within the wall of the tank having one end portion leading to a rim flush and a full capacity opposite end portion leading to a port discharging into the tank above the height of the maximum water level therein, a trap formed in said passage between the opposite end portions thereof, a connection between said ball cock and said trap forming the sole water discharge conduit for said ball cock and adapted to direct the entering water towards the rim flush but with sufflcient counter pressure to prevent unsealing of said trap, a normally closed valve in said passage between said trap and said rim flush and a connection between said flush valve and passage valve for opening the latter whenever said flush valve is unseated.

7. In flushing apparatus for water closets including a storage tank, a ball cock for filling and a flush valve for emptying the same, of a passage formed within the wall of the tank having one end portion leading to a rim flush and a full capacity opposite end portion leading to a port discharging into the tank above the height of the maxi mum water level therein, a trap formed in said passage between the opposite end portions thereof and of such shape as to avoid bursting pressure by freezing water therein, a connection between said ball cock and said trap forming the sole water discharge conduit for said ball cock and adapted to direct the entering water towards the rim flush but with sufficient counter pressure to prevent unsealing of said trap, a normally closed valve in said passage between said trap and said rim flush and a connection between said flush valve and passage valve for opening the latter whenever said flush valve is unseated.

8. In flushing apparatus for water closets including a storage tank, a ball cock for filling and a flush valve for emptying the same, of a passage formed Within the wall of the tank having one end portion leading to a rim flush and a full capacity opposite end portion leading to a port discharging into the tank above the height of the maximum water level therein, a trap formed in said passage between the opposite end portions thereof and of such shape as to avoid bursting pressure by freezing water therein, a connection between said ball cock and said trap forming the sole water discharge conduit for said ball cock and adapted to direct the entering water towards the rim flush but with sufficient counter pressure to prevent unsealing of said trap, a normally closed valve in said passage between said trap and said rim flush, a connection between said flush valve and passage valve for opening the latter whenever said flush valve is unseated and a small drainage port for said trap located to normally drop the water level therein to below the sealing point.

9. The combination with a Water closet of the type including a bowl, a low level storage tank having a discharge connection into said bowl below the normal level of the water seal therein, a flush valve and a rim flush for the bowl; of flushing means comprising a conduit having a portion leading to said rim flush and a full capacity portion leading to said tank the latter portion terminating in a constantly open discharge port spacedabove the maximum height of water level in said tank, and a ball cock connected for supplying water solely to said conduit.

JAMES M. TEAHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor Oct. 4, 1932 

